Talanoa

Tongan congregation in Palmerston North mourn car crash victims

The Tongan Free Wesleyan Church in Palmerston North is today mourning the loss of one of its members in a car crash north of Taupo on Tuesday.

It has been confirmed the eight passengers in one of the vehicles were Tongan and closely related.

Reverend Tevita Langi said the group was on its way home from Auckland where they had attended the quarterly meeting of the Free Wesleyan Methodist Church.

"It's not really easy to talk about it right now," says Reverend Langi. "We had a prayer meeting with our congregation last night and we're going to have another one today. We're also hoping to see the family today."

Emergency services at the crash site north of Taupō. Photo/ Philips Search & Rescue Trust.

The Police Serious Crash Unit (SCU) has begun its investigations into the cause of a crash that claimed four lives.

Forty-four-year-old Pesi Fuavai who was ordained in Auckland last weekend is among the fatalities.

The head on collision at the intersection of SH1 and Tutukau Road killed a 65-year-old woman, a 60-year-old man and a five-year-old boy in one vehicle along with a 44-year-old woman in the other vehicle.